The Blue Chair Film Festival will return to Luang Prabang from 4 to 8 December, bringing filmmakers and film lovers from across Southeast Asia to the UNESCO World Heritage town for five days of free screenings and events.
The festival will screen films at four venues across the city, with screenings running from 10 AM to 10 PM The program will include films from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
Alongside the screenings, the 2026 festival will feature panels and discussions, live evening performances, and special screenings followed by conversations with local communities. Festival schedules and updates will be available through the festival app and website.
A New Look
Blue Chair unveiled its visual theme for this year’s festival at a private event in Luang Prabang on 9 September, held in partnership with Aenoteca.
The new artwork centers on a lighthouse, reflecting the festival’s role in bringing Southeast Asian cinema to audiences in Laos and beyond. The design takes a more retro approach, using a warmer, more analog look while keeping the focus on the festival’s connection to Luang Prabang, its culture, and cinema.
The festival is also introducing a new mascot, Nong Fa, a blue chair character created by Lao artist Bim Lattana of Shrimpien Lab.
Nong Fa turns the familiar plastic chair into a playful character and a symbol of the community spirit behind the festival.
Films From Across Southeast Asia
The official selection is chosen by film experts from across Southeast Asia, working with Blue Chair’s programming team.
Sean Chadwell, Blue Chair’s executive director and lead programmer, said the festival received more submissions this year than ever before.
“Narrowing that down wasn’t easy, but it means the program we’re bringing to Luang Prabang this December is the strongest we’ve put together yet,” he said.
The festival is produced in collaboration with the Luang Prabang Department of Culture and Tourism, with support from local hotels, businesses, community organizations, and individual donors.
All festival screenings are free and open to the public.
